107.5FM WCCN The Rock - The Coolest Station in the Nation
ESPN 92.3FM WOSQ
92.7FM WPKG
Memories 1370AM 98.5FM
98.7FM / 1450AM WDLB - Timeless Classics
Listen Live: 107.5 THE ROCK • 92.7 FM
Family owned radio stations serving all of Central Wisconsin

DATCP Releases Top Ten Consumer Complaints of 2024

Friday, February 7th, 2025 -- 10:01 AM

DATCPLogo10.jpg

As the state’s primary consumer protection agency, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) responded to 11,374 written consumer complaints in 2024.

The resulting mediations, enforcement actions, and settlements returned over $23 million to Wisconsin consumers through refunds and restitutions directly returned to consumers, and civil forfeitures deposited into the state’s common school fund for the benefit of public education.

The top ten complaint categories of 2024 are:

  • Landlord-Tenant Issues,
  • Telemarketing,
  • Home Improvement,
  • Identity Theft,
  • Telecommunications,
  • Medical Services,
  • Motor Vehicle Repair,
  • Motor Vehicle Sales (New and Used),
  • Travel,
  • And Motor Vehicle Accessories.

DATCP’s tenth most common consumer complaint category of 2024, having received 141 complaints, was motor vehicle accessories. Refunds, failure to deliver products, and deceptive and misleading representations were the top issues reported by consumers.

While DATCP traditionally announces its top ten consumer complaints, the agency would also like to highlight other important issues that follow closely behind.

Consumers filed many complaints in the categories of entertainment and recreation, warranties and extended warranties, major appliances, timeshares and timeshare resellers, furniture and home furnishings, and medical devices.

Following some of these complaints, DATCP’s mediation resulted in consumers receiving thousands of dollars in refunds on products and services like timeshare memberships, malfunctioning refrigerators, and concert tickets.

DATCP receives tens of thousands of requests for assistance and resources every year through written complaints, inquiries to the Consumer Protection Hotline, free presentations on consumer protection issues, and more.

The Consumer Protection team assists the public every day with many more issues not listed above. Whether mediating a dispute between a consumer and a business, investigating, educating the public, or guiding consumers on scam or identity theft recovery services, DATCP’s mission is to serve Wisconsin consumers.

The agency’s Bureau of Consumer Protection is ready and able to help, however necessary. For more information and consumer protection resources, or to file a complaint, visit DATCP’s Consumer Protection webpage at ConsumerProtection.wi.gov.

DATCP’s Consumer Protection Hotline can be contacted at (800) 422-7128 or [email protected].

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.